Gasket, in particular cylinder head gasket

The flat seal has at least one metal layer which has pocket-form recesses (12) with a base to accommodate deformable sealing elements (10). The base of the recesses has at least one cutout which functions as an expansion space for a displaced sealing element. The cutout extends on the face end section of the recess so that the base has a limiting edge which is set back in relation to the face end section of the recess.